Chapter 15

Chapter 15 — (Trust)

The next morning, something felt different.

The four friends sat together before class.

But this time, nobody was talking much.

Han-seok kept glancing at Me-yongi.

Seo-jun was unusually quiet.

Miho noticed everything.

She finally spoke.

Miho: “Why is everyone so quiet?”

Han-seok looked at Me-yongi.

Han-seok: “You know why.”

Me-yongi looked confused.

Me-yongi: “Because of yesterday?”

Han-seok nodded.

Han-seok: “Your reaction.”

Me-yongi sighed.

Me-yongi: “I already told you. I was just surprised.”

Han-seok didn't respond.

Seo-jun looked at Miho.

Seo-jun: “We shouldn't accuse her without evidence.”

Miho nodded.

Miho: “Exactly.”

She looked at Han-seok.

Miho: “She's our friend.”

Han-seok leaned back.

Han-seok: “I'm not accusing her.”

Miho raised an eyebrow.

Miho: “Then stop looking at her like she's a suspect.”

Han-seok smirked.

Han-seok: “Fine.”

Me-yongi smiled weakly.

Me-yongi: “Thanks, Miho.”

Miho smiled back.

Miho: “Always.”

After School

Seo-jun stayed behind in the classroom to organize their notes.

Me-yongi walked back inside.

Me-yongi: “You're still here?”

Seo-jun looked up.

Seo-jun: “Yeah. I'm trying to figure out our next step.”

She sat beside him.

Me-yongi: “You shouldn't carry everything alone.”

Seo-jun smiled.

Seo-jun: “I'm not.”

Me-yongi looked at him.

Me-yongi: “You know… you can trust me.”

Seo-jun paused.

Seo-jun: “I do.”

Me-yongi smiled.

Me-yongi: “Good.”

She leaned over the notebook.

Me-yongi: “Maybe we should stop looking at everyone around Soo-ah and focus on the person she was actually talking to.”

Seo-jun nodded.

Seo-jun: “That's what I was thinking.”

For a moment, they worked quietly together.

Then Me-yongi asked:

Me-yongi: “Do you still think about Soo-ah?”

Seo-jun looked down.

Seo-jun: “Every day.”

Me-yongi's expression softened.

Me-yongi: “You really cared about her.”

Seo-jun nodded.

Seo-jun: “She was our friend.”

Me-yongi looked at him for a moment longer.

Me-yongi: “You're a good person, Seo-jun.”

He smiled awkwardly.

Seo-jun: “Thanks.”

Outside the classroom, Miho stopped when she saw them together.

Han-seok was beside her.

He looked through the window.

Then at Miho.

Han-seok: “Interesting.”

Miho frowned.

Miho: “Don't start.”

Han-seok smirked.

Han-seok: “I didn't say anything.”

Miho rolled her eyes.

Miho: “You were about to.”

They walked away together.

Later

They stopped at a small café near school.

Miho sat across from Han-seok.

He pushed a drink toward her.

Miho: “What's this?”

Han-seok: “You haven't eaten anything since morning.”

Miho smiled.

Miho: “You noticed?”

Han-seok looked away.

Han-seok: “Unfortunately.”

Miho laughed.

Miho: “You're actually nice sometimes.”

Han-seok: “Don't tell anyone.”

She laughed again.

For a moment, everything felt normal.

No mystery.

No fear.

Just the two of them sitting together.

Miho looked at him.

Miho: “Han-seok?”

Han-seok: “Hmm?”

Miho: “Do you trust me?”

He looked directly at her.

Han-seok: “More than anyone.”

Miho smiled.

Neither of them noticed Seo-jun and Me-yongi walking past the café window.

Me-yongi looked inside.

She saw Miho and Han-seok laughing together.

Her expression changed.

She looked away.

Me-yongi: “Let's go.”

Seo-jun glanced at her.

Seo-jun: “Already?”

Me-yongi: “Yeah.”

They continued walking.

Behind them, the mystery surrounding Soo-ah was getting deeper.

And inside their group, trust was beginning to change.

Some friendships were growing stronger.

Others were quietly breaking apart.

To be continued…